Rhode Island General Laws 14-1-36. Commitment of delinquent and wayward children
(a) In all proceedings under this chapter, the court may order a delinquent or wayward child to be committed to the training school for youth for a sentence no longer than the youth’s nineteenth birthday. However, nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the placing of any child in the custody of the department of children, youth and families or any other agency, society, or institution, pursuant to § 14-1-32. The commitment of delinquent or wayward children shall be by an order and all assignments of the custody of dependent, neglected, delinquent, or wayward children to the state training school for youth or to the custody of the department of children, youth and families or to any of the private institutions, agencies, or societies mentioned in this chapter shall be by a decree signed by the justice of the court by whom the order or decree is issued, and that order or decree shall be directed to any person that the court may designate, and shall require that person to take the child and deliver him or her to the officer in charge of the training school for youth or to the custody of the director of children, youth and families or of the public or private institution, agency, or society, and the order or decree shall constitute the person charged with it, while he or she has the order in his or her possession for service, an officer for all purposes under this chapter, in any county of the state in which it may be necessary for him or her to go. The person charged with carrying out the order or decree shall also deliver to the officer of the public or private institution, agency, or society or to the training school for youth or the director of children, youth and families a copy of the order or the decree signed by the justice of the court issuing it, and subject to the provisions of this chapter, the officer and other authorities in charge of the training school for youth or the director of children, youth and families or any public or private institution, agency, or society shall hold the child according to the terms of any other order or decree that may from time to time thereafter be issued by the court in relation to the child.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 14-1-36
- Child: means a person under eighteen (18) years of age. See Rhode Island General Laws 14-1-3
- court: means the family court of the state of Rhode Island. See Rhode Island General Laws 14-1-3
- Delinquent: when applied to a child, means and includes any child who has committed any offense that, if committed by an adult, would constitute a felony, or who has on more than one occasion violated any of the other laws of the state or of the United States or any of the ordinances of cities and towns, other than ordinances relating to the operation of motor vehicles. See Rhode Island General Laws 14-1-3
- Justice: means a justice of the family court. See Rhode Island General Laws 14-1-3
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
- Wayward: when applied to a child, means and includes any child:
(i) Who has deserted his or her home without good or sufficient cause;
(ii) Who habitually associates with dissolute, vicious, or immoral persons;
(iii) Who is leading an immoral or vicious life;
(iv) Who is habitually disobedient to the reasonable and lawful commands of his or her parent or parents, guardian, or other lawful custodian;
(v) Who, being required by chapter 19 of Title 16 to attend school, willfully and habitually absents himself or herself from school or habitually violates the rules and regulations of the school when he or she attends;
(vi) Who has, on any occasion, violated any of the laws of the state or of the United States or any of the ordinances of cities and towns, other than ordinances relating to the operation of motor vehicles; or
(vii) Any child under seventeen (17) years of age who violates Rhode Island General Laws 14-1-3
(b) Whenever the court shall commit a child to the training school for youth or to the director of children, youth and families or any other institution or agency, it shall transmit with the order of commitment a summary of its information concerning the child.
History of Section.
P.L. 1944, ch. 1441, § 25; impl. am. P.L. 1946, ch. 1774, §§ 1, 2; G.L. 1956, § 14-1-36; impl. am. P.L. 1961, ch. 73, § 14; P.L. 2001, ch. 77, art. 23, § 2; P.L. 2007, ch. 73, art. 22, § 1.